Written Answers Monday 1 October 2007

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4002 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, what representations it has made to British Airways and Loganair Ltd and what the response was from the airlines.

Stewart Stevenson: My officials have been in close touch with Loganair and I shall raise the issue with the airline when I meet them in October. We will follow up with British Airways in light of that meeting.

Central Heating

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why liquid petroleum gas is not allowed as a fuel choice for the central heating programme, particularly in areas where mains gas is not available.

Stewart Maxwell: The previous administration decided at the outset of the programme that due to their higher running costs, central heating systems fuelled by liquid petroleum gas should not be part of the programme.

Central Heating

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley have benefited from the free central heating programme since its inception.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Installations in the private sector are only available by postcode area. As at the end of August 2007, a total of 4,524 households have received central heating systems in the KA postcode area.

  In the public sector, East Ayrshire Council has installed 246 systems and South Ayrshire has installed 117 since the inception of the programme.

Central Heating

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the free central heating scheme are currently being processed for residents of the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The information is only available by postcode area. The Programme Managing Agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that there are currently 852 applicants awaiting central heating installation in the KA postcode area.

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken since May 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help meet its target of an 80% reduction by 2050.

Stewart Stevenson: The statement to Parliament in June by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth committed us to consult on a Scottish Climate Change Bill that will set a clear, long-term statutory framework to meet a proposed 80% emissions reduction target. We are developing detailed proposals for the bill, in consultation with key stakeholders, and plan to begin formal consultation at the earliest opportunity.

  We have taken, or are taking a number of specific measures which will contribute to our emission reduction objectives including development of our policies for the promotion of renewable heat and increased micro-generation; establishment of an expert panel to recommend measures which will make houses and buildings in Scotland more energy efficient; encouragement of tighter caps on emissions in future phases of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; development of proposals to target emissions from energy use by large commercial and public sector organisations through the Carbon Reduction Commitment, and progression of plans to introduce a "one-stop-shop" for domestic consumers across Scotland to provide a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to sustainable energy advice.

  We also announced our intention to work constructively as part of the UK effort and have been exploring with the UK Government our engagement with the UK Climate Change Bill.

Concessionary Travel

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand the older and disabled persons concessionary travel scheme to cover all ferry and rail travel.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to do so.

Concessionary Travel

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of extending the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons to the disabled people on the lower rate of the care component of disability living allowance and, if so, how many people would benefit from such an extension of the scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: We have not estimated the cost of extending the scheme in this way and we have no current plans to amend the national criteria for eligibility. The scheme which began in April 2006, is due to be reviewed after three years.

Crofting

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what decisions it has reached on designating new areas for the creation of crofts outside the crofting counties.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government expect to consult later this year on a proposal to extend crofting tenure in Scotland to the island of Arran and the remaining parts of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area not currently within the Crofting Counties.

  The proposed extension will not affect the arrangements for offering grant assistance to crofters within the crofting counties, as defined in the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993. Support arrangements for crofting are presently under consideration by the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, which is expected to report to ministers early in 2008.

Digital Technology

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many known attempts to hack into IT systems operated by the Scottish Government there have been in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: There have been no reported incidents of hacking into Scottish Government IT systems since 1999.

Digital Technology

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many known attempts to hack into the IT systems of non-departmental public bodies there have been in each year since 1999.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not keep records of security incidents in non-departmental public bodies as the IT systems involved are the responsibility of those bodies. Records of any such incidents will be held by them.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are living with parental drug or alcohol misuse.

Adam Ingram: The most recent prevalence estimate for Scotland is that up to 60,000 children under 16 have a parent with a drug problem. Of these, it is estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 live with a parent with drug problems. We do not have an equivalent figure for the number of children living in households with a parent who has an alcohol problem. However the latest estimates indicate that there are approximately 80,000-100,000 children affected by parental alcohol misuse in Scotland.

Fire Service

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many call-outs the Scottish Fire Service has had to premises growing cannabis in the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests it has received under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department.

Bruce Crawford: Detail on how many requests for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded in each month since January 2005, broken down by department, is provided as follows.

  2005

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 9
 7
 11
 7
 4
 3


 Education
 11
 30
 113
 49
 16
 5


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 31
 20
 14
 46
 11
 17


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 25
 21
 9
 33
 16
 11


 Finance and Central Services
 14
 29
 18
 14
 13
 7


 Health
 15
 62
 37
 34
 24
 6


 Justice
 6
 17
 34
 18
 11
 3


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 7
 16
 12
 34
 1
 2


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 52
 41
 38
 16
 30
 2



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 5
 15
 5
 7
 8
 9


 Education
 19
 15
 16
 3
 11
 6


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 14
 8
 12
 18
 10
 11


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 8
 7
 7
 15
 20
 16


 Finance and Central Services
 19
 5
 10
 15
 14
 16


 Health
 55
 4
 3
 9
 18
 6


 Justice
 14
 6
 6
 7
 17
 4


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 1
 6
 1
 3
 2
 3


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 14
 8
 10
 6
 40
 6



  2006

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 3
 2
 10
 6
 6
 6


 Education
 6
 14
 20
 9
 10
 5


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 12
 11
 16
 9
 5
 11


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 26
 14
 24
 15
 12
 13


 Finance and Central Services
 20
 24
 22
 20
 28
 11


 Health
 6
 6
 11
 6
 8
 16


 Justice
 6
 9
 14
 3
 3
 11


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 5
 3
 4
 1
 1
 


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 12
 13
 12
 25
 9
 11



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 4
 9
 5
 4
 11
 2


 Education
 4
 17
 10
 8
 5
 


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 10
 14
 9
 9
 7
 6


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 10
 8
 9
 6
 9
 5


 Finance and Central Services
 10
 16
 15
 24
 10
 15


 Health
 4
 7
 2
 7
 16
 3


 Justice
 16
 53
 4
 14
 8
 5


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 1
 1
 5
 11
 3
 2


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 10
 13
 14
 9
 12
 12



  2007

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May


 Development
 2
 5
 6
 2
 2


 Education
 4
 6
 8
 5
 2


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 12
 10
 13
 3
 8


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 7
 9
 5
 4
 3


 Finance and Central Services
 16
 15
 7
 1
 11


 Health
 7
 10
 10
 8
 13


 Justice
 5
 10
 4
 5
 8


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 5
 4
 2
 5


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 7
 51
 37
 15
 9


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice and Communities
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  

 Department
 June
 July
 August
 September


 Development
 1
 2
 0
 0


 Education
 
 2
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 12
 3
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 4
 2
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 11
 2
 0
 0


 Health
 13
 3
 0
 0


 Justice
 6
 4
 0
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 3
 5
 0
 0


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 10
 8
 3


 Education
 0
 1
 10
 1


 Environment
 1
 3
 4
 9


 Health
 0
 3
 8
 4


 Justice and Communities
 0
 2
 7
 5


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 1
 17
 6



  Note: *Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of requests received by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.

Bruce Crawford: Detail on how many and what percentage of requests received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and where we have been notified of the outcome of the request in each month since January 2005, broken down by departments, is provided as follows.

  2005

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May
June
July


Development
67%(6)
67%(4)
100%(11)
25%(1)
50%(1)
50%(1)
100%(3)


Education
75%(6)
93%(26)
90%(95)
79%(23)
92%(12)
67%(2)
100%(17)


Environment and Rural Affairs
65.5%(19)
94%(15)
100%(13)
80%(28)
78%(7)
71%(10)
92%(11)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
76%(19)
95%(18)
100%(8)
82%(18)
75%(6)
80%(4)
80%(4)


Finance and Central Services
77%(10)
77%(20)
89%(16)
64%(9)
45%(5)
100%(6)
61.5%(8)


Health
60%(9)
85%(52)
47%(16)
62%(18)
95%(18)
100%(3)
84%(37)


Justice
0%(1)
100%(10)
97%(33)
93%(14)
100%(2)
50%(1)
91%(10)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
71%(5)
33%(5)
83%(10)
53%(18)
100%(1)
50%(1)
0%(1)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
77%(37)
57.5%(23)
14%(5)
77%(10)
75%(15)
100%(1)
70%(9)



  

Department
August
September
October
November
December


Development
90%(9)
100%(4)
83%(5)
100%(3)
55%(5)


Education
93%(14)
71%(10)
67%(2)
75%(6)
67%(4)


Environment and Rural Affairs
86%(6)
87.5%(7)
53%(8)
50%(3)
100%(5)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
33%(2)
75%(3)
80%(4)
75%(12)
64%(7)


Finance and Central Services
40%(2)
89%(8)
68%(7)
78%(7)
46%(6)


Health
100%(3)
67%(2)
80%(4)
38%(5)
0%(1)


Justice
33%(1)
50%(2)
67%(2)
67%(8)
100%(1)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
80%(4)
0%(1)
67%(2)
0%(1)
0%(2)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
100%(5)
43%(3)
80%(4)
50%(4)
50%(2)



  2006

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May
June
July


Development
100%(3)
100%(2)
40%(2)
67%(2)
50%(2)
50%(3)
100%(4)


Education
60%(3)
75%(9)
93%(13)
86%(6)
67%(6)
50%(1)
100%(1)


Environment and Rural Affairs
27%(3)
25%(1)
92%(11)
100%(3)
75%(3)
71%(5)
87.5%(7)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
80%(12)
83%(10)
53%(8)
11%(1)
44%(4)
80%(8)
100%(4)


Finance and Central Services
37%(7)
70%(14)
56%(9)
83%(10)
67%(10)
62.5%(5)
50%(3)


Health
20%(1)
67%(2)
50%(4)
100%(2)
57%(4)
42%(5)
100%(1)


Justice
50%(1)
25%(1)
80%(4)
0%(2)
50%(1)
100%(4)
75%(3)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
67%(2)
100%(3)
75%(3)
100%(1)
100%(1)
(0)
100%(1)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
60%(6)
50%(4)
75%(6)
25%(5)
71%(5)
78%(7)
20%(1)



  

Department
August
September
October
November
December


Development
(0)
67%(2)
67%(2)
67%(6)
0%(1)


Education
33%(5)
100%(4)
100%(5)
33%(1)
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
91%(10)
83%(5)
80%(4)
(0)
67%(4)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
67%(2)
20%(1)
25%(1)
67%(2)
0%(2)


Finance and Central Services
33%(4)
54.5%(6)
75%(6)
89%(8)
60%(3)


Health
0%(3)
0%(1)
0%(2)
54%(7)
50%(1)


Justice
82%(14)
0%(3)
57%(4)
0%(1)
50%(1)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
100%(1)
100%(3)
75%(3)
(0)
50%(1)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
44%(4)
33%(3)
75%(6)
67%(2)
14%(1)



  2007

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May


Development
50%(1)
100%(3)
100%(3)
100%(1)
100%(1)


Education
100%(2)
50%(2)
57%(4)
100%(4)
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
80%(4)
75%(3)
57%(4)
(0)
100%(3)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
0%(1)
50%(3)
25%(1)
0%(1)
67%(2)


Finance and Central Services
100%(7)
80%(8)
100%(4)
0%(1)
57%(4)


Health
50%(1)
60%(3)
100%(1)
67%(2)
83%(5)


Justice
100%(1)
75%(6)
50%(1)
0%(1)
75%(3)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
(0)
100%(1)
100%(2)
0%(1)
67%(2)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
50%(3)
28%(10)
82%(9)
64%(7)
67%(2)


Directors-General*


Economy
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Education
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Environment
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Health
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Justice and Communities
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Permanent Secretary
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)



  

Department
June
July
August
September


Development
100%(1)
50%(1)
(0)
(0)


Education
(0)
100%(1)
(0)
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
50%(2)
100(2)
(0)
(0)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
(0)
(0)
0%(1)
(0)


Finance and Central Services
100%(3)
50%(1)
(0)
(0)


Health
89%(8)
50%(1)
(0)
(0)


Justice
(0)
100%(1)
(0)
(0)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
(0)
100%(2)
(0)
(0)


Directors-General*


Economy
(0)
83%(5)
80%(4)
(0)


Education
(0)
(0)
(0)
100%(1)


Environment
100%(1)
100%(3)
(0)
100%(1)


Health
(0)
100%(1)
100%(3)
100%(1)


Justice and Communities
(0)
100%(1)
(0)
100%(1)


Permanent Secretary
(0)
100%(1)
100%(1)
100%(2)



  Note:*Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Bruce Crawford: Detail on the median response time of requests received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and where we have been notified of the outcome of the request in each month since January 2005, broken down by departments, is provided as follows.

  2005

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 17
 79
 15
 22
 15
 24.5


 Education
 19.5
 20
 20
 21
 15
 19


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 20
 16.5
 21
 20
 19
 21


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 21
 20
 17.5
 16.5
 20.5
 12


 Finance and Central Services
 21
 17.5
 20
 21.5
 23
 10


 Health
 21
 22
 23
 21
 21
 19


 Justice
 22
 19
 14.5
 20
 18.5
 36


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 19
 38
 10
 22
 20
 24.5


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 21
 19.5
 28
 20
 20
 17



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 15
 18
 16.5
 15
 18
 21


 Education
 13
 11
 14
 21
 8
 15.5


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 15
 15
 13.5
 21
 22.5
 18


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 4
 28
 8
 18
 17.5
 16


 Finance and Central Services
 20
 23
 17
 20
 16
 22


 Health
 22
 20
 21
 18
 22
 9


 Justice
 18
 26
 17
 21
 20.5
 17


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 25
 11
 38
 1
 25
 28


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 20
 6
 22
 20
 22.5
 29



  2006

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 11
 5.5
 23
 15
 18
 17


 Education
 21
 16
 18
 19
 20
 15.5


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 97
 40
 13.5
 8
 13
 20


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 19
 17
 21
 50
 22
 17


 Finance and Central Services
 22
 17.5
 19.5
 14.5
 19
 20.5


 Health
 32
 21
 20.5
 18.5
 24
 21.5


 Justice
 36
 31.5
 20
 35.5
 20
 19


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 17
 16
 17.5
 13
 11
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 21
 21.5
 20.5
 61
 18
 9



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 14
 0
 13
 21
 19
 22


 Education
 18
 24
 11.5
 17
 56
 0


Environment and Rural Affairs
 8.5
 18
 13.5
 17
 0
 11.5


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 9
 16
 30
 24.5
 21
 32.5


Finance and Central Services
 21.5
 22
 21
 14
 14
 21


 Health
 2
 41
 22
 33.5
 21
 13.5


 Justice
 6
 19
 52
 20
 22
 25


Legal and Parliamentary Services
 19
 8
 17
 20.5
 0
 31.5


Office of the Permanent Secretary
 28
 55
 33
 15
 18
 23.5



  2007

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May


 Development
 17.5
 7
 18
 13
 9


 Education
 14
 20
 16
 14.5
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 13
 21
 20
 0
 6


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 33
 23
 24.5
 21
 28


 Finance and Central Services
 13
 13.5
 10.5
 22
 20


 Health
 15
 19
 30
 11
 5


 Justice
 12
 21
 26.5
 22
 19


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 20
 19
 35
 21


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 20.5
 29
 14
 19
 14


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice and Communities
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  

 Department
 June
 July
 August
 September


 Development
 20
 7
 0
 0


 Education
 0
 8
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 21.5
 14.5
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 10
 18
 0
 0


 Health
 17
 14
 0
 0


 Justice
 0
 20
 0
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 0
 13
 0
 0


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 9.5
 18
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 4
 0


 Environment
 14
 7
 0
 10


 Health
 0
 20
 18
 19


 Justice and Communities
 0
 20
 0
 6


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 14
 20
 11.5



  Note: *Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests from members of the public to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.

Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for information state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirement for an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However, where we have been notified of such, this information is recorded.

  We do not have any requests centrally recorded which identified the requester as a member of the public. However, detail on the median response time of requests for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and where we have been notified of the response, in each month since January 2005 broken down by department, where the applicant has not identified him or herself as a MSP, MEP, councillor, or acting on behalf of an organisation, is provided below.

  2005

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May
June
July


Development
15
18
14
22
(0)
(0)
8


Education
17
14
9
22
15
13.5
19


Environment and Rural Affairs
21
18
20
18.5
21
26.5
17.5


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
21
19
18
18
18
17
12


Finance and Central Services
20
9
10
13
20
1
20


Health
20.5
18
8
7
20
5
17


Justice
(0)
20
15
19.5
(0)
61
16


Legal and Parliamentary Services
17
20
(0)
25
(0)
30
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
21.5
17
20
32
20
(0)
(0)



  

Department
August
September
October
November
December


Development
18
8
5
18
17.5


Education
11
14
17
1
23


Environment and Rural Affairs
3
4
7
22.5
18


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
21.5
1
16
21
12


Finance and Central Services
(0)
16
19
19
24


Health
(0)
22.5
17
15.5
9


Justice
18
29
20
17
(0)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
3
(0)
(0)
25
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
(0)
16
20
20
38.5



  2006

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May
June
July


Development
11
(0)
19.5
18
14
16.5
14


Education
20
19
18
(0)
(0)
15.5
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
100
(0)
13
3
18
20
40.5


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
19
7.5
16
22
14
20
4


Finance and Central Services
20
19
19.5
15
18.5
20
(0)


Health
44
27.5
14.5
(0)
24
21
(0)


Justice
20
41.5
17
35.5
20
20
18


Legal and Parliamentary Services
17
20
30
(0)
11
(0)
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
22
23
11.5
18
(0)
35
34.5



  

Department
August
September
October
November
December


Development
(0)
64
14.5
11
(0)


Education
24
(0)
17
56
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
15
2
13
(0)
10


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
12.5
34
21
13.5
32.5


Finance and Central Services
19
18
14
15
2


Health
33.5
22
45
22
26


Justice
16
69
20
(0)
25


Legal and Parliamentary Services
8
8
21
(0)
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
57
33
19
43.5
23



  2007

  

Department
January
February
March
April
May


Development
15.5
7
19.5
12
8


Education
(0)
22
11
5
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
10
17.5
17
(0)
(0)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
33
25
31
20
28


Finance and Central Services
14
10.5
10.5
22
16


Health
5
24
19
23
4


Justice
12
21
(0)
22
19.5


Legal and Parliamentary Services
(0)
(0)
20
35
30


Office of the Permanent Secretary
(0)
26
23.5
19
14


Directors-General*
 
 
 
 
 


Economy
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Education
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Environment
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Health
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Justice and Communities
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Permanent Secretary
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)



  

Department
June
July
August
September


Development
20
7
(0)
(0)


Education
(0)
8
(0)
(0)


Environment and Rural Affairs
20
14.5
(0)
(0)


Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Finance and Central Services
13
6
(0)
(0)


Health
(0)
22
(0)
(0)


Justice
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Legal and Parliamentary Services
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Office of the Permanent Secretary
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Directors-General*
 
 
 
 


Economy
(0)
3.5
21.5
(0)


Education
(0)
(0)
4
(0)


Environment
14
7
(0)
10


Health
(0)
(0)
(0)
19


Justice and Communities
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)


Permanent Secretary
(0)
14
(0)
8



  Note: *Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for information state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirement for an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However, where we have been notified of such, this information is recorded.

  Detail on the median response time of requests for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and, where we have been notified of the response, that were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department, and where an applicant has clearly identified him or herself as a MSP, MEP, or councillor is provided in the following tables. We do not have any requests centrally recorded which identified the requester as a MP or Member of the House of Lords.

  2005

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 9
 0
 18
 0
 26


 Councillor
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 27
 0
 0
 20
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 9
 19
 0


 Councillor
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 28
 18
 0


 Health
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 19
 11


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 38
 0
 100
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 17
 0
 17.5
 18
 0



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 
 
 
 
 
 50


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 50


 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 20
 47
 0
 0
 0


 Councillor
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 15


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 12.5
 20
 0
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 11
 27


 Councillor
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 31


 Finance and Central Services








 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 23
 0
 0
 0
 22
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 27
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 27
 5
 0
 0
 0
 0



  2006

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 20
 0
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 20
 0
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 16.5
 0
 39
 0


 MEP
 0
 0
 0
 118
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 52
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 23
 0


 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 13


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 MEP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 22
 0
 0
 0
 74


 Health
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 22
 76
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 22
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 20
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 40



  2007

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May


 Development
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 11
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 18
 0
 0


 Health
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 86
 32
 0
 0


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 
 


 Health
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice and Communities
 
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  

 Department
 June
 July
 August
 September


 Development
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 17
 0
 0
 0


 Justice
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 


 Health
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 20
 0
 0


 Justice and Communities
 
 
 
 


 MSP
 0
 0
 0
 6



  Note: *Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests from journalists to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.

Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for information state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirement for an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However, where we have been notified of such, this information is recorded.

  Detail on how many and what percentage of requests for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and, where we have been notified of the response, that were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department, and where an applicant has clearly identified him or herself as a coming from a journalistic organisation, is provided as follows.

  2005

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 18.5
 22
 12.5
 0
 0
 34


 Education
 22
 20
 20
 21
 18
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 20
 11
 13
 21.5
 19
 21


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 21
 20.5
 17
 20
 25
 1


 Finance and Central Services
 21
 17.5
 20
 21
 23
 10


 Health
 24
 22
 24
 21
 17.5
 20


 Justice
 22
 18
 14
 20
 18
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 19
 26
 10
 27
 20
 19


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 21
 20
 28
 12.5
 22.5
 0



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 0
 15.5
 0
 48
 0
 21


 Education
 13
 9
 14.5
 20
 0
 16


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 0
 25.5
 35
 115
 19
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 4
 35
 46
 20
 17
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 19
 13
 19
 0
 30
 20


 Health
 22
 20
 0
 29
 55
 0


 Justice
 19
 0
 21
 18
 21
 17


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 25
 19
 0
 1
 0
 34


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 20
 20
 23
 0
 54.5
 39



  2006

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June


 Development
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 22
 22
 21
 20
 96
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 17
 40
 13
 12
 19
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 173
 20.5
 134.5
 38
 38
 4


 Finance and Central Services
 22
 16.5
 24
 11.5
 24
 0


 Health
 0
 0
 22
 18.5
 12
 25


 Justice
 0
 31.5
 23
 0
 0
 18


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 26
 0
 20
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 0
 41
 20
 74.5
 33.5
 11



  

 Department
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December


 Development
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 22


 Education
 0
 20
 0
 19
 50.5
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 8
 13
 21
 0
 0
 30


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 13
 0
 30
 68
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 22
 22
 22
 0
 14
 21.5


 Health
 0
 0
 0
 0
 32
 1


 Justice
 1.5
 21
 52
 4
 0
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 43


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 20
 37.5
 46
 12
 4
 0



  2007

  

 Department
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May


 Development
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 14
 19
 22
 14.5
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 0
 22
 23
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 10
 16
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 25
 17
 41
 7
 5


 Justice
 0
 3
 0
 0
 19


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 20
 17
 0
 4


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 23
 29
 14
 15.5
 17.5


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Justice and Communities
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  

 Department
 June
 July
 August
 September


 Development
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment and Rural Affairs
 45
 0
 0
 0


 Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Finance and Central Services
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 17.5
 6
 0
 0


 Justice
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Legal and Parliamentary Services
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Office of the Permanent Secretary
 0
 13
 0
 0


 Directors-General*
 
 
 
 


 Economy
 0
 0
 18
 0


 Education
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Environment
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Health
 0
 0
 18
 0


 Justice and Communities
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Permanent Secretary
 0
 0
 20
 15



  Note: *Reflects a change in organisational structure.

Housing

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any changes to the commission payable to park home site owners on the completion of the sale of a private park home.

Stewart Maxwell: The commission payable to park home site owners has not changed. The maximum rate remains at 10%, as prescribed by the Mobile Homes (Commissions) Order 1983.

Housing

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to alter the commission payable to park home site owners on the completion of the sale of a private park home.

Stewart Maxwell: We have no current plans to alter the rate of commission payable to park home site owners.

Housing

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2123 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, who is responsible for monitoring the compliance of the design of new dwellings with the liveability standard and how consistently the reference to "where it is reasonably practicable to do so" is interpreted.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) to answer. His response is as follows:

  It is the responsibility of the local authority to verify compliance with the building regulations and for accepting a completion certificate as confirmation of compliance once the work is complete. All new-build dwellings must comply in full with the "liveability standard" covering accessibility within a dwelling.

  The conversion of existing buildings into new dwellings, however, can be a complex exercise and it is not always possible to comply in full. A converted building, therefore, must meet the requirements of the standard in so far as it is reasonably practicable. The local authority verifier will decide what is deemed to be reasonably practicable for compliance with each relevant standard when a building warrant application is submitted for approval. Each case will be taken on its own merits by the verifier and the SBSA has no access to the information on the decisions taken.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of first-time house buyers in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stewart Maxwell: The most recent estimates of the number of loans issued for house purchase to first-time buyers in Scotland are set out in the following table. These data are sourced from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The notes to the tables explain the coverage of the estimates.

  Number of Loans Issued for House Purchase - Scotland

  

 Year
 


 August 2006 to July 2007
 37,900


 January to December 2006
 38,900



  Source: Council of Mortgage Lenders; Regulated Mortgage Survey (RMS).

  Notes:

  1. The estimates cover loans to first-time buyers taking out a loan to secure house purchase (including those exercising the right-to-buy their social rented property). The estimates exclude cash purchases and remortgaging activity. The estimates also exclude buy-to-let purchases and second-charge mortgages, as these transactions are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

  2. This data is drawn from the Regulated Mortgage Survey, which contains transaction-level data on approximately 85% of all new regulated mortgages issued in Scotland. RMS data is based on statutory Financial Service Authority returns.

  3. Internal analysis indicates that the grossed figures for 2005 and 2006 are likely to be accurate to around 4%.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of first-time house buyers in cities in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on numbers of first-time buyers is available from the Council of Mortgage Lenders but only for Scotland as a whole.

Housing

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3869 by Stewart Maxwell on 12 September 2007, what the timetable is for the proposed survey on the need for a mandatory tenancy deposit scheme for Scotland; what format it will take; what its scope and remit will be, and who will be involved in the survey.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is currently commissioning a survey of 1,000 private sector tenants, which will help in assessing the scale and nature of problems related to tenancy deposits. The survey should gather evidence about the experiences of different types of private tenant in urban and rural locations across Scotland.

  The survey fieldwork is expected primarily to be undertaken in spring 2008 and a report on the results will be published in summer 2008. The survey will involve face-to-face interviews with tenants and will include questions to assess: the extent and nature of any problems in relation to tenancy deposits, the deposit management practice followed by their current landlord and tenants’ awareness of their rights and sources of advice and support.

  The Scottish Government will also be commissioning a survey of private landlords to consider similar issues in relation to tenancy deposits. The timing and format of this survey has not yet been finalised.

Housing

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3869 by Stewart Maxwell on 12 September 2007, when the results of the audit of current good practice will be available.

Stewart Maxwell: This is one of a number of work streams being carried out by the stakeholder working group on Safeguarding Tenancy Deposits, which will feed in to recommendations next year.

Housing

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Housing Supply Taskforce will examine the effects on registered social landlords of funding issues arising from the credit crunch in the international financial markets.

Stewart Maxwell: No. The role of the Housing Supply Task Force is to increase housing supply by tackling the obstacles, such as land supply and planning issues, that have been hampering the delivery of more housing of all types. A discussion paper will be published later in the autumn to look at the future role and functioning of the social rented sector. This will be the place to consider and take stakeholders’ views on issues around the level and cost of private finance for registered social landlords.

Information Technology

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it plans to make to BT Scotland and what other action it intends to take in relation to those rural telephone subscribers who cannot achieve broadband connection speeds over their BT landlines.

Jim Mather: Extensive discussions have already taken place between the Scottish Government and BT Scotland regarding the broadband reach issue, and it has now been established that BT has no solutions to the reach problem.

  The government is, however, taking forward a programme of work to try to bring broadband to as many people as possible who are currently without access and further details about this will be announced on the www.broadbandforscotland.co.uk website in due course.

Ministerial Transport

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that modes of transport used for official government business are more environmentally friendly.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2830 on 3 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Ministerial Visits

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary constituencies in the city of Glasgow the Minister for Community Safety has visited since taking up post.

Fergus Ewing: I have visited the constituencies of Kelvin, Anniesland, Govan and Shettleston in the city of Glasgow since taking up post.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what core and project funding has been provided to Planning Aid for Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available and what information is available on how this level of funding compares with that provided by government sources of Planning Aid in England and Wales.

Stewart Stevenson: In financial year 2006-7, the Scottish Government provided Planning Aid for Scotland with core funding of £120,047 and project funding of £133,260 - £253,307 in total.

  In 2006-07 the Department for Communities and Local Government provided £1.7 million for Planning Aid in England. This funding for Planning Aid in England is not broken down into core and project. The Welsh Assembly Government provided funding of £100,000 plus project funding of £20,000 to Planning Aid Wales over the same period.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding levels provided by government sources to Planning Aid in England over the next three years are used as a benchmark for the funding requirement for Planning Aid for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: No - we will make funding decisions in Scotland based on our own needs and priorities.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding and other resources it considers are needed to deliver greater community engagement to ensure that the culture change envisaged in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 takes place.

Stewart Stevenson: The financial memorandum to the Planning Act set out estimated costs for planning authorities in implementing the act. Planning authorities will have a key role to play in ensuring a greater degree of community engagement in both development planning and development management. This will also require, in addition to financial resources, a suitable level of skilled staff in the planning service. But there will also be a role for developers, community groups and other stakeholders in contributing to a more participatory planning system. There are, however, no general estimates of the resource implications of such contributions, which will vary greatly over time.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide enhanced funding of Planning Aid for Scotland to facilitate greater community engagement in the planning system as envisaged in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning Aid for Scotland has already received increased funding for its work in facilitating community engagement in planning with £161,711 in 2005-06, £253,307 in 06-07 and up to £282,159 in the current financial year.

  Future funding for Planning Aid for Scotland will be considered as part of this year’s Spending Review.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what community engagement it intends to undertake in respect of National Planning Framework 2.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the community engagement we will carry out in respect of the National Planning Framework 2 are contained in the Participation Statement, which is available on the National Planning Framework webpage ( www.scotland.gsi.gov.uk/topics/planning/national-planning ). This will be refreshed as and when new information is available and additional events arranged.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages Planning Aid for Scotland playing in undertaking community engagement in respect of National Planning Framework 2.

Stewart Stevenson: We are currently considering whether there is a role for Planning Aid for Scotland in our community engagement for the National Planning Framework 2.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing core funding for Planning Aid for Scotland to allow the establishment of regional offices accessible to the public.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning Aid for Scotland already provides a national service of training and advice with volunteers from across Scotland.

  The case for a regional network of offices has never been put to the government. Should such a case be made, we would carefully consider the business plan to ensure that it afforded value for money to the Scottish budget.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure is estimated to be on the (a) Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine, (b) Waverley and (c) Airdrie to Bathgate rail lines.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine

  The cost for the construction of the project is currently estimated to be up to £85 million.

  (b) Waverley

  Transport Scotland is continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway as it prepares to take on the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is assuming at the behest of the previous Administration. This exercise, amongst other things, shall assess what the total expenditure is estimated to be. Therefore, until this exercise is complete, it is not prudent to speculate what the final outturn cost of the project is likely to be.

  (c) Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Lines

  The total expenditure on Airdrie to Bathgate is estimated at £299.7 million in Q1 2006 prices.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with West Lothian Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials met West Lothian Council officials on 9 August 2007 to discuss this issue. Discussions focussed on cost, funding and construction of Blackridge Station which the Scottish Government wishes to see delivered, at minimum cost to the public purse. The issue of station provision is also covered at the regular meetings between West Lothian Council, Network Rail and Transport Scotland officials.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials met with North Lanarkshire Council on 20 September 2007 to discuss this issue. Discussions focussed on the output from the feasibility study on the provision of a station at Plains. The issue of station provision is also covered at the regular meetings between North Lanarkshire Council, Network Rail and Transport Scotland officials.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the demand for a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Work was carried out on the likely demand of all proposed additional stations on the Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in 2004 and this work was taken forward into the 2006 Design Development Appraisal. Both these reports are available on the Airdrie to Bathgate website.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the economic viability of a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: Work was carried out on the economic viability of all proposed additional stations on the Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in 2004 and this work was taken forward into the 2006 Design Development Appraisal. Both these reports are available on the Airdrie to Bathgate website.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has carried out with the people of Plains in relation to a new station at Plains on the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: In addition to consultation with individual home owners and other landowners adjacent to the proposed line, Network Rail, the project promoters, held public meetings in Plains in September 2005 and again in January 2006, prior to submission of the Private Bill to Parliament. Additionally, over 30 public meetings have been held in other locations along the route. Network Rail will continue to engage with local communities throughout the lifecycle of the project.

Rail Services

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will act to ensure that mainline Edinburgh to Glasgow train services stop at Edinburgh Park station.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to my statement of 27 September 2007, where I set out our intentions to make a number of improvements over the next few years to Edinburgh and Glasgow services, including introducing additional services that could allow stops at Edinburgh Park without compromising the end-to-end journey times for other passengers.

Renewable Energy

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the decision was taken on the Harestanes wind farm.

Jim Mather: The Harestanes consent application was determined on Monday 3 September 2007.

Renewable Energy

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the decision on the Harestanes wind farm was (a) notified to the applicant, (b) notified to objectors, (c) notified to Dumfries and Galloway Council and (d) released to the press.

Jim Mather: The applicant, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the press were notified on the 10 September 2007. At the same time, the decision details of the Harestanes application were also made available to the public, including objectors, by being placed on the Energy Consents website.

Renewable Energy

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for not making a decision on the Clyde wind farm at the same time as making the decision on the Harestanes wind farm.

Jim Mather: While there was a conjoined Public Local Inquiry to allow relevant issues to be considered together these are two separate applications which necessarily raise different issues. Before a determination can be made all material issues relating to each development application must be considered in accordance with Scottish ministers’ legislative and planning obligations.

Road Accidents

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there were in Grampian between November 2006 and February 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police. The returns do not cover damage only accidents or accidents of which the police are unaware because they were not reported by the public.

  The following table gives the number of reported injury road accidents which were identified in the Stats 19 returns as occurring within the Grampian police force area between November 2006 and February 2007.

  Reported Injury Road Accidents within the Grampian Police Force Area Between November 2006 and February 2007

  

 Month/Year
 Accidents


 November 2006
 113


 December 2006
 84


 January 2007
 81


 February 2007
 87


 Total
 365

Roads

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to bring forward the start date for work on the M8 Newhouse to Baillieston upgrade.

Stewart Stevenson: No. We are currently working to the following timetable:

  Publish draft road orders and compulsory purchase orders:

  Autumn 2007

  Award contract – 2009-10

  Scheme open – 2012-13.

Science

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support science in Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: As we set out in our Programme for Government Principles and Priorities document, Scotland needs a healthy science and research base, as our future economy and society will be increasingly dependent on science and technology and science contributes to all of our wider objectives. We will therefore be giving priority to developing our plans for science and innovation strategy and developing a vision for supporting science to benefit the economy, our people and our quality of life. We published on the Scottish Government website in August a report on a consultation exercise on Scotland’s science and innovation strategy conducted between October 2006 and January 2007. We now intend to build on that work to develop a replacement for the science strategy published in 2001. Plans for this work, including proposals on scope, timing and stakeholder engagement, are currently being drawn up for ministers to consider and no target date has yet been set for publication. However, given the degree of preparatory work necessary, including further consultation with stakeholders, the wide ranging nature of science strategy and the interaction with other strategic work, we would expect this to be produced during 2008. In addition to this overall strategy, we are currently consulting on a revised strategy for health research funded through the Chief Scientist Office of the Health Directorates, with the aim of publishing a new strategy in 2008 and we have also recently initiated a scoping exercise in the area of rural, environmental and marine policy that will help us to publish a framework for the next research strategy in this area by the summer of 2008. The Chief Scientific Adviser in the Scottish Government, Professor Anne Glover, is ensuring we adopt a co-ordinated approach to science policy and strategy across the Scottish Government.

  Our approach to supporting science will be set out in our overall strategy and this will need to address a range of issues. These will include maintaining an internationally competitive science base and ensuring that funding for science is aligned and co-ordinated; stepping up our international connections on science to attract more large scale investment, and ensuring that discoveries and innovations from our science base are harnessed effectively; ensuring that our education system produces a good flow of scientists and those with science skills, to meet the needs of all sectors of our economy; promoting and engaging public interest in science and in science careers, and ensuring that science is used effectively by Government to support all aspects policy development.

  In the meantime, we shall continue to support science through a wide range of programmes, including funding of research and its exploitation in universities, research institutes, the NHS, and business – planned public investment in which will amount to over £450 million in 2007-08. Science education will benefit from our science and society programme and science is being considered early in the on-going review of curriculum materials.

Scottish Water

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much interest on borrowings Scottish Water has paid in each year since its creation.

Stewart Stevenson: A breakdown of the interest paid by Scottish Water on its borrowings for each year may be found in its Annual Accounts. These are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under the following reference numbers:

  

 Year
 Bib. Number


 2002-03
 28754


 2003-04
 33541


 2004-05
 36848


 2005-06
 39906


 2006-07
 43566

Scottish Water

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4066 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 September 2007, whether it plans to consider setting limits on the charges that Scottish Water can apply to domestic water and sewerage customers lower than those currently set by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and, if so, whether this consideration could include setting a freeze on water charges in line with its proposed freeze on council tax charges in 2008-09.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no plans to limit the charges that Scottish Water can apply other than as set out in the Water Industry Commission’s final determination of charges for 2006-10.

Tourism

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the enterprise network supports the tourism industry.

Jim Mather: Scotland has a successful tourism industry with the potential to grow significantly, contributing to our target of delivering strong and sustainable growth.

  The Scottish Government and our agencies are committed to working with the tourism industry to achieve our shared ambition to increase Scotland’s tourism revenues by 50% in the decade to 2015. The enterprise networks have identified tourism as one of Scotland’s priority sectors. They support tourism businesses in a variety of ways, including assisting in product development, investment in infrastructure, building partnership and networking opportunities and using skills development to improve management, leadership and customer service. These are all aimed at helping the tourism sector to grow by increasing capacity and become more efficient and effective.

  The reforms to the enterprise networks and VisitScotland which we announced on 26 September 2007 are designed to simplify and strengthen the ways in which they will work with tourism businesses identified as having the potential to contribute to our tourism growth ambition.

Transport

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of whether agencies operating park-and-ride sites actively monitor how heavily these sites are used.

Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail, as part of its franchise obligations, has to carry out annual car park counts, including blue badge holder usage of railway car parks. These surveys are reported to Transport Scotland.

  Bus park-and-ride projects typically have been delivered through local authorities, who therefore are responsible for any monitoring arrangements.

Transport

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many railway stations are designated as park-and-ride sites and where these stations are located.

Stewart Stevenson: Two hundred and twenty Scottish stations have parking facilities which allow passengers to park-and-ride. The car parks are managed, maintained and operated by various parties including First ScotRail, Network Rail, local authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and commercial car park operators. One hundred and fifty-three are under the direct control of the franchisee, First ScotRail.

Transport

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the role of park-and-ride facilities to be.

Stewart Stevenson: The role of park-and-ride facilities is to permit people to complete part of a journey by public transport. They encourage modal shift away from car usage, thus reducing emissions from transport, and congestion on urban road networks.

Voluntary Organisations

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide further resources to local authorities to enable them to provide three-year funding arrangements to voluntary organisations.

Jim Mather: Local authorities already receive their funding from the Scottish Executive in three year financial settlements, as they have done since 2001. Local authorities have the autonomy to make local funding decisions, such as those involved in determining the level of funding passed on to the third sector, on whatever basis and to whatever timescales they deem appropriate.

  The level of resources that local government are to receive from the Scottish Executive will be determined as part of the Spending Review process and the results of that process are likely to be known later this year. Altering the quantum of resources provided to local government would not directly affect their ability to pass on funding in three year tranches. However, we support the practice of three year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encourage the use of longer term funding agreements, where possible, to provide a stable and efficient operating environment for the sector.

War Veterans

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4011 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, whether its close liaison with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) includes regular meetings of representatives of the Executive, the MoD and Scotland’s veterans’ organisations and, if so, when the last such meeting took place, when the next is scheduled and whether it will publish the names of those attending.

Stewart Maxwell: Officials from the Scottish Government’s Social Inclusion Division chair the Veterans’ Programme (Scotland) Steering Group which last met on 19 February 2007 and will meet again on 23 October.

  As well as officials from the Scottish Government, Ministry of Defence and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, this meeting is also regularly attended by representatives from Poppy Scotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland, ERSKINE, Scottish Veterans Residences and Veterans Scotland.

  Officials of the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Defence have also recently met, on 31 August, and will meet again on 24 October 2007. Officials also meet regularly with representatives of Scottish veterans organisations, the last such meeting being with a representative of Poppy Scotland on 6 September to discuss supported employment for veterans.

  Furthermore, officials from the Scottish Government attend the Veterans’ Forum, chaired by the UK Minister for Veterans, at which the Devolved Administrations and a range of veterans’ organizations from across the United Kingdom (including Veterans Scotland, Combat Stress and Poppy Scotland) are represented. The last meeting of the forum was on 15 June 2007 with the next meeting scheduled for 4 December 2007.

  A full list of attendees and the minutes of the forum can be found online at:  http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_programme/vets_forum.html.

  Scottish ministers are also invited to attend the Veterans Taskforce, again chaired by the UK Minister for Veterans, but in recent years have been unable to attend.

War Veterans

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4007 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, whether it will list the Scottish-based members of the Veterans’ Programme Scotland (VSP) Steering Group, also showing the name of the organisation that each represents; when the VSP Steering Group (a) last met and (b) will next meet, and what information it has about the programme of activities planned by the Ministry of Defence in relation to veterans in Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: The Veterans Programme (Scotland) Steering Group is chaired by an official from the Social Inclusion Division of the Scottish Government and the membership list includes representatives from Poppy Scotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland, ERSKINE, Scottish Veteran’s Residences, Veterans Scotland, the Service Personnel and Veteran’s Agency in Scotland, as well as officials from the MOD Veterans Policy Unit in London.

  The Steering Group last met on 19 February 2007 and will next meet on 23 October 2007.

  The Veterans Programme and the Veterans Programme (Scotland) sets out the Ministry of Defence’s intended programme of activities in Scotland and the rest of the UK and outlines how cross-Governmental co-operation and close liaison with veteran’s organisations can best meet the needs of the veteran’s community. The purpose of the Veterans Programme Scotland Steering Group is to achieve these aims with specific regard to the different political and legal positions in Scotland. Further information about the Veterans Programme can be found at: http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_programme/vets_programme.html.

War Veterans

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4009 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, what consideration has been given to the setting up and funding of pilot schemes in Scotland in order to develop a range of services to bereaved families of armed services personnel killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Stewart Maxwell: Given the existing services that are in place, the Scottish Government has no plans to set up and fund pilot schemes in Scotland in order to develop a range of services for bereaved families of armed forces personnel killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

  However, as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing said in her answer to the question S3W-4009 on 12 September 2007, the Scottish Government welcomes any opportunity to discuss the many needs of Scotland’s veterans and their families. I have therefore arranged to meet with Ron Smith, Chairman of Veterans Scotland, on 3 October 2007, when those matters will be on the agenda.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.